Unintended Consequences of Military Cohesion

Abstract

ABSTRACTCohesion has a positive influence on many aspects of everyday life, including improved military performance. However, due to focus on the positives, many studies tend to omit potentially negative outcomes of cohesion. It is particularly important in regard to authoritarian military institutions, in which unit cohesion can have unintended consequence resulting in dehumanizing effect of the out-groups. The following research examines the process from cohesion to dehumanization and argues that there is a need to change the way how unit cohesion is achieved. The distinction is made between the controlled and autonomous cohesion. It will be argued that autonomous locus of causality is potentially more beneficial for military cohesion and performance in conflict environments.